Конец рабства
IV
Afterhisoneglanceattheroadsteadhewenton,sincetherewasnothingtoturnbackfor,andthetimemustbegotthroughsomehow.TheavenuesofbigtreesranstraightovertheEsplanade,cuttingeachotheratdiverseangles,columnarbelowandluxuriantabove.Theinterlacedboughshighupthereseemedtoslumber;notaleafstirredoverhead:andthereedycast-ironlamppostsinthemiddleoftheroad,giltlikescepters,diminishedinalongperspective,withtheirglobesofwhiteporcelainatop,resemblingabarbarousdecorationofostriches’eggsdisplayedinarow.Theflamingskykindledatinycrimsonsparkupontheglisteningsurfaceofeachglassyshell.
Withhischinsunkalittle,hishandsbehindhisback,andtheendofhisstickmarkingthegravelwithafaintwaveringlineathisheels,CaptainWhalleyreflectedthatifashipwithoutamanwaslikeabodywithoutasoul,asailorwithoutashipwasofnotmuchmoreaccountinthisworldthananaimlesslogadriftuponthesea.Thelogmightbesoundenoughbyitself,toughoffiber,andhardtodestroy—butwhatofthat!Andasuddensenseofirremediableidlenessweightedhisfeetlikeagreatfatigue.
Asuccessionofopencarriagescamebowlingalongthenewlyopenedsea-road.Youcouldseeacrossthewidegrass-plotsthediscsofvibrationmadebythespokes.
